Butter-chip maker



March 12, 1940. J. WEINBERG 2,193,014

BUTTER CHIP MAKER Filed May 12, 1939 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 12, 1940 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

The present invention relates to a new and improved apparatus for forming butter chips or patties.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device, preferably for household use, that will produce butter in chip form and simultaneously ornament and/or emboss each formed chip.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a butter chip forming and ornamenting device comprising inner and outer frames supported in slidable relation, the inner frame forming with the upper portion of the outer frame a butter receiving chamber. The end walls of the outer frame are formed with a pair of aligned openings for permitting removal of the inner frame after ornamentation of the butter supported within the receiving chamber has been effected. The inner frame comprises top, bottom and side walls, the end Walls of said frame being open for cooperation with the openings formed in the end walls of the outer frame when desiring to move one frame relative to the other.

The invention will be fully and comprehensively understood from a consideration of the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing which forms a part of the application.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of the device and illustrating a slab of butter in the process of ornamenting and chip making.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken. substantially on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating the manner of removing the base frame from the outer frame.

Figure 4 is a perspective'view, partly in section, of a modified form of frame construction, and

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of the form illustrated in Figure l.

The herein described device is primarily adapted for household use when it is. desired to form a limited number of butter chips or patties from a predetermined supply of butter. It is to] be understood that the ornamenting head may be formed with various letters and characterizations significant of the user.

Referring to the drawing for a more detailed description thereof, and particularly to Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, it will be noted that there are provided an inner and outer frame I and 8 respectively, each frame being substantially rectangular-shaped, with the inner frame I being slidably held relative tothe outer frame 8. The frames I and 8 are preferably formed of relatively thin light weight metal or similar material so that the combined thickness of the two frames when supported one within the other will provide a relatively rigid structure.

The frame I comprises top and bottom walls 9 and II], respectively, and side walls II and I2, respectively, with the ends of said frame being open whereby there is formed a substantially hollow rectangular-shaped structure. The outer frame 8 comprises side walls I 3 and I I, respectively, a bottom wall I5 and end walls I6 and I7, respectively. The side and end Walls of the frame 8are formed with an outwardly extending flange I8 for guiding and receiving the impresser head generally designated by the reference numeral I9. The flange I8 also serves as a finger support when moving frame I relative to frame 8 and in addition adds structural strength to said frame. The function of the impresser head i9 and the flange I8 is the same as that described in my Patent #2,147,684 issued February 21, 1939. When the frames I and 8 are united in the manner shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, the upper ends of the side and end walls of the outer frame 8 extend above the top wall 9 of the inner frame I and combine to. form a receiving chamber 26 for a slab of butter 2i sliced from a print of butter or from butter in bulk form, the slab of butter being of a'form and size to fit within the outer frame 8 and to rest upon the top wall 9, said top wall thus forming a supporting surface.

The bottom wall I 5 of the outer frame 8 is provided with eccentrically formed rib members 3| and 32 respectively, which cooperate with correspondingly formed grooves 33 and 34, respectively, formed in the bottom wall Ill of the inner frame I when said frames are arranged in the manner shown in Figure 1 of the drawing. After the formation of the butter chips by the impresser head I9, the inner frame I is removed from the outer frame 8, and in order that the formed butter chips may be lifted from the supporting surface 9, the inner frame I is placed within the outer frame 8 in a position reversed to that shownin Figure 1 of the drawing. As afore-indicated, the rib members 3i and 32, respectively, are formed on the bottom wall I5 of the outer frame 8, said rib members being so positioned that one of the members is at a greater distance from the intersection of the axes of the bottom wall taken at right angles to each other than the other rib member. Due to this formation, when the inner frame I is placed within the outer frame 8 in a position reverse to that shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, the

plain surface of the bottom wall ll] of the inner frame will rest upon said ribs, thereby supporting the bottom of the inner frame substantially entirely spaced from the bottom of the outer frame to bring the supporting surface 9 substantially flush with the flanged portion l8. By means of a suitable implement, the formed butter chips may then be lifted from the supporting surface 9. If desired, however, the bottom walls Ill and I of the frames 1 and 8, respectively, may be formed of a relatively flat surface by omitting the ribs and grooves, in which case said bottom walls would rest one upon the other.

The impresser head I9 is of substantially the same shape as the outer frame 8 and is of Tasize to fit over the flanges !8. The inner surface of the impresser head is formed with ornamenting" means 22 and is also provided with integrally formed extending cutting members 23 fOIfdil/fid.

ing the print of butter into a number of equal sized chips as'explained in the above mentioned patent, and, since the use and-operation of the.

. portion of the end-wal1s.- After ornamenting and cutting the chips from the slab of butter by means of the impresser head 19, said; headis manually lifted from theouter frame 3. Due to the adhesivequalitiesof butter, it is necessary in order to release the head to impart a rocking motion thereto when lifting the same and to also prevent lifting of. the inner frame 1. reason the lower opening -25 is formed in the end walls of the frame 8. As more clearly shown in Figure l of the drawing, when removing the impresser head thethumb of one hand is disposed through the opening 25 and rests upon the bottom wall it of the frame lfor securely holding said frame with one hand while lifting the impresser head Iii-with the other hand.

The purpose of the upper aligned openings 24 is to permit the insertion of the fingers, asshown in Figure 3 of'the drawing, beneath the top wall 9 of the inner-frame 1 so as to project said Wall above the flange, 18 whereby the open end walls of said frame can be engaged by both hands for completely lifting the same from the outer frame 8. The inner frame 1 is then reversed. and replaced within the outer frame-'8 in the manner previously described. After removal of the inner frame from the outer frame, the ornamented chips are lifted from the supporting surface 9 by any desired means. As is to be understood a finger of each hand is inserted through the openings 2 with the thumb resting upon thewill be noted that the outer frame 2? has open top and bottom areas while' the bottom portion only of the inner frame 26 is open.- In additionv to theside'andrend walls, the frame Zfifuizther includes a top wall 3E! which forms a supporting surface for a print-of butter, substantiallythe For this same as in the preferred form. The outer frame 2'! is provided with an upper flange 28 for accommodating the impresser head l9 and the inner frame 26 is formed with an outwardly extending flange 29 on the bottom thereof upon which rests the outer frame 21. The modified form differs from the preferred form in that the outer frame is lifted to permit removal'of the ornamented chips. When lifting the outer frame 27, the flange 29, is engaged by one hand for securely holding the inner or base frame 23. The flange 29and frame 27 are both held while lifting the impresser head from the flange 28 after the ornamenting and cutting operation has been performed.

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be readily 'apparentthat there is provided a relatively simple and inexpensive structure for forming ornamented butter chips. The bottom plates "land-l5 and the slidably engaging side walls of both frames materially-stiffen the structure of the device for adding rigidity thereto. By this construction the device can be manufactured using exceptionally thin material thereby reducingto a minimum the cost thereof. It is, of course, to be understood that the respective sizes of the frames are such as to permit free sliding movement of one frame relative to the other.

Also it will be understood, of course, by those skilled in the art that variations in the hereinabove described device involving the substitution of substantial equivalents for the devices described are intended to be comprehended within the spirit of thepresent invention and that the invention iscapable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of thedrawing nor to the;preciseconstruction described and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therein as do not affect the spirit of-the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appendedclaims,

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the character described comprising, an outer frame having upstanding walls, and an inner frame slidably engaging the walls of said outer frame, said inner frameformingwith an upper portion of the outer frame a receiving chamber for a print of butter, one or more of the walls of'said outer frame being formed with aligned openings for insertion of a finger Within the innerframe to hold said frames in one position and to permit urging the inner frame upwardly, for disengagement from the outer frame.

2; A deviceof the character described comprising, an outer frame having upstanding walls, an inner-frame slidably engaging the walls -.of said outer frame, said frames being rectangular shaped with the bottom wall of said inner frame resting upon the bottom wall of said outer frame, saidinner frame having a top wall to provide a supportingsurfacefora print of butter, a closure member slidably mounted externally of saidiouter frame, one or more ofthe walls of said outer. frame being formed with aligned openings for insertion of .a thumb and finger for holding the device while removing said closure from. saidouter frame and to permit disengagementiof-asaid innerframe from said outer frame.

3.-A device: of thecharacter described comprising, an' outer frame having upstanding walls, an inner frameslida-bly engaging the walls of saidwouter framethe bottom wall of said outer frame being formed withprojectlng rib members,

' the bottom wall of said-inner frame being formed with grooved portions, said rib members being at such varying spaced relation to the side walls that in one position of the inner frame with respect to the outer frame said rib members will rest within the grooves and in another position with respect thereto the ribs will support the bottom of the inner frame substantially entirely spaced from the bottom of the outer frame.

4. A device of the character described comprising, an outer frame having a bottom wall and side walls, an inner frame having a bottom wall and side walls slidably engaging the walls of the outer frame, rib members on the bottom wall of the outer frame, one of said rib members being at a greater distance from the intersection of the axes of the bottom wall taken at right angles to each other than another rib member, the bottom wall of said inner frame being provided with grooves corresponding in location to the rib members whereby when the inner frame is placed within the outer frame in one position with respect thereto the rib members will rest within the grooves and in another position with respect thereto the ribs will support the bottom of the inner frame substantially en tirely spaced from the bottom of the outer frame.

5. A device of the character described comprising, an outer frame having a bottom wall and side walls, an inner frame having a bottom wall and side walls slidably engaging the walls of the outer frame, projections on the bottom wall of the outer frame, one of said projections being at a greater distance from the intersection of the axes of the bottom wall taken at right angles to each other than another projection, the bottom wall of said inner frame being provided with receiving means corresponding in location to the projections whereby when the inner frame is placed Within the outer frame in one position with respect thereto the projections will rest within the receiving means and in another position with respect thereto the'projections will support the bottom of theinner frame substantially entirely spaced from the bottom of the outer frame.

6. A device of the character described comprising, an outer frame having upstanding walls, and an inner frame slidably engaging'the walls of said outer frame, said inner frame forming with an upper portion ofthe outer frame a receiving chamber for a print of butter, one or more of the walls of said outer frame being formed with openings for insertion of a finger within the inner frame when moving one'frame relative to the other. i

'7. A device of the character described comprising, an outer frame having upstanding walls, and an inner frame slidably engaging the walls of said outer frame, said inner frame forming with an upper portion of the outer frame a receiving chamber for a print of butter, one or more of the walls of said outer frame being formed with superposed openings for insertion of a finger within the inner frame when moving one frame relative to the other.

MAURICE J. WEINBERG. 

